Racing's Future: Olivia Friesen

A 21-year-old college art major residing in Texas, Olivia Friesen has been a fan of racing for 13 years and a fan of horses since the day she was born. She even has fond memories of pretending that her Appaloosa gelding, Chico, was her racehorse. A passionate photographer, Olivia runs the mostly horse racing-focused Instagram account @thequineathlete.

How did you become interested in horse racing?

My love for all things horses began at such a young age, I can’t even pinpoint it. My love for racing really began at the age of eight, when I started reading the Thoroughbred book series.  The first time I ever went to the track was when I was twelve, to Lone Star Park, and seeing the horses racing and pounding around the track in person just instilled an extra sense of passion in me for the sport.

What do you love about horse racing?

I love the speed, the action, the knowledge that absolutely anything can happen in a race. I’ve seen heavy favorites lead the field the entire time and I’ve seen a 30-1 longshot power past in the last few yards and take the entire track by surprise. I love the excitement of the fans, and watching the grooms interact with their charges, rubbing their favorite spots or calming them down. The best part, of course, is the horses. Watching them prance in, the nervous dances they do, the pounding of the hooves on the track, the absolute exhilaration of it all.

Who are some of the people you admire in the industry and why?

I really admire Keen Racing Stable for their work in rehabilitating, retraining and adopting out retired racers, with their Remember Me Rescue. I truly wish more stables had some sort of program or at least made bigger efforts to find new lives for OTTBs. They are doing wonderful work saving Thoroughbreds from slaughter houses and taking in donated horses, to give them a second lease on life. In addition, they have a huge part in creating a brand to mark on horses that represents they are not suitable for consumption and therefore cannot be sent to slaughter houses.

What aspects of horse racing do you wish you knew more about?

I honestly wish I knew more of everything! I would probably say especially the workout and racing strategies. I feel I have a very loose understanding of the basics, but not enough to explain to someone else.

What racetracks have you been to?

The only track I have been to for attending a race is Lone Star Park. I have visited Ruidoso Downs on an off race day, as well as driven through and briefly stood at the rail at Keeneland, and was lucky enough to see a few horses out for a late morning gallop, as well as have gone on a tour of Churchill Downs with my dad.

What is your favorite racetrack? Why?

Lone Star Park is my home track and I love it there! The grounds are beautiful, especially when all the crepe myrtles are all in bloom. The entire track has such a homey feel and I love the wall-to-ceiling windows on either side of the tunnel, so that fans can get an up close look at the horses. Churchill Downs was also just stunning! It was honestly such an awe-inspiring experience, and when we walked through the tunnel onto the track, I had to stop and take it all in. To walk where legends had walked, including one of my favorites, Secretariat, it felt like sacred ground for horse racing.

Of the racetracks you have not been to, which one do you want to visit most?

I would love to return to Churchill Downs for an actual race, as well as Keeneland and Ruidoso. However I think more than anywhere, I want to visit Emerald Downs. I saw a picture once and my jaw dropped! I don’t see how the jockeys don’t get distracted mid-race by the breathtaking view. It’s going on my bucket list to visit every track in America. If I can’t accomplish that, then I just want to visit as many as I can.

What are your favorite moments in your “horse racing life” thus far?

First and foremost would be my first visit to Lone Star Park, when Cliff Berry won his race then signed his goggles and passed them to me. He’s been my favorite jockey ever since.

Once, my dad and I went for a Jockeys and Java morning at LSP and afterwards we toured the Keen Racing Stable barn, where I made friends with a giant gelding named Bold and Fresh. It felt like the coolest thing, that this race horse wanted to be my friend.

I’ve had a photo I took of W V Jetsetter posted by Double Infinity Ranch, as well as by the Texas Thoroughbred Association, and both times I pretty much freaked out and thought it was the coolest thing ever.

In addition, being able to get a media pass that allows me into the saddling area and onto the rail has been beyond exciting. I love being closer to the action, and I have met so many incredible people because of it.

The last time I headed out to the track it poured rain for a majority of the time. I was the photographer standing at the rail determined to get my pictures! And, of course, what would I have done without my dad there? He stood in the rain with me, holding an umbrella for me so that neither I nor the camera would get too soaked. I am incredibly grateful for him and the rest of my family for all of their support.

Who are your favorite racehorses of your lifetime? Before your lifetime?

Before my time, would be my two all-time horse racing loves, Secretariat and Ruffian. Everyone needs to read a book on Ruffian. Ruffian: Burning From the Start by Jane Schwartz made me cry, and fall head over heels in love with that incredible filly. 

In my lifetime there have been so many greats. I would definitely say Zenyatta, American Pharaoh, Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, Eight Belles, Barbaro and California Chrome. Beholder is a gorgeous mare that I have not watched race, but have fallen in love with. There is also a darling little colt named Imma Bling who I saw at LSP this summer. I just want to follow him around and photograph him.

If you could change something about the industry, what would you change?

I really wish whips did not have such a heavy presences on the track. I have had to ride with crops before, but I have never been a big fan of them. I understand using them to encourage a horse to move, but I feel sometimes riders get a little too free with them.

The biggest thing, though, would be nurse mare foals. I stress that not all breeding farms do this, but there are ones that do. It is one part of racing that really truly saddens me. Nurse mares are given foals to take care of from broodmares who either were previously successful on the track or are winning producers. The nurse mare’s own foal is often killed. There are organizations that rescue these foals, and I wish that all breeding farms that use nurse mares would send the foals to one instead of euthanizing them.

What do you think is preventing horse racing from being a more popular sport?

I think a lot of people are concerned about how the horses are cared for. Sadly not every single horse you see is going to be treated with the love they deserve, and maybe some truly do not like to run. You will honestly find that in every equestrian sport. But look at some of the greats. Secretariat won the Belmont at 31 lengths after running full out for a 1 ½ miles. Ruffian kept trying to finish the race even after her horrific injury mid-race, and even woke up from anesthesia after her surgery, galloping flat on her side as if she was racing in her mind. Clearly, there are horses that genuinely love running and racing.

What do you think is the most common misconception about horse racing?

I would say that people think that sometimes horses are mistreated and forced to race against their will. As I’ve said before, yes, there are horses that are mistreated, but there are so many more that are loved and cared for by those around them. I love watching jockeys get on a mount they clearly love, watching handlers proudly pose their charges and tell them to look my way for a photo, owners hugging their horses after a good race and even after a terrible run. People truly care about these animals. So many hold special places in so many hearts, and not just the fans, but the people involved in their everyday lives.

The horse racing industry is its own little community. I’ve met so many people with genuine love for both the sport and for the athletes. 

How would you convince someone who is not an avid follower of horse racing to begin following the sport?

I think if people had the opportunity to go to events like “Jockeys and Java” and have a more personal interaction with the horses and the jockeys, they would be more interested in the sport. I would invite them to an actual race, to get a chance to experience the thrill of the horses and the pounding of the hooves. It’s like the heart beat that keeps the track alive and breathing.

What career do you plan to pursue in the horse racing industry?

I would love to be an official track photographer, but even more so I’d love to be a personal photographer for race horses. To record a horse’s life from starting out as a foal, training, and racing career, all the way to retirement. I honestly can’t think of a more exciting career I’d want to pursue!

How are you currently contributing to the horse racing industry?

I promote the sport though my Instagram account, which I started because I wanted to share my work without overwhelming my non-horse friends with an overabundance of horse pictures. I like showing not only the actual race, but candid moments before and after. I, of course, promote Lone Star Park, because it really is such a wonderful place, and I often see whole families out for a night of racing.

What is one thing you aspire to personally accomplish someday in the horse racing industry?

I would like to continue to show the excitement of the race as well as the candid side of racing and hopefully get picked up by a stable to be their photographer. I think that showing the humanity in racing will help attract more fans to the sport, and help people to realize racing has a heart. I would love to one day adopt an OTTB from Remember Me Rescue and again show that these horses have a purpose beyond the track.  Other than that, I leave it all up to God to plan for me! Quite honestly, I’m pretty excited to see what He has in store for me in the racing industry.